The Backlog Check-In Vol. 451: 8/22/26: Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 Edition

[jfissel]

Combolands (PC) – August 24
1666: Amsterdam (PC early access) – August 25
Aggelos 2 (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – August 27
Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – August 25
Blood Dungeon (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, PC) – August 25
Box Knight (PC) – August 25
Once Human (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – August 25
Brigandine Abyss (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC) – August 26
AstroScaper (PC) – August 27
Kalanoro (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) – August 27
Lou's Lagoon (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, PC) – August 27
Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, Switch, PC) – August 27
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – August 27
Star Wars: Zero Company (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – August 27
The Immortal John Triptych (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, Switch, PC) – August 27
Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) – August 28
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition (Switch 2) – August 28
Garden of Witches (PC) – August 28


Finished: Nothing

Now Playing: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Added to Backlog: Nothing

Current Backlog: 35 games

Got another party member in Expedition 33, went up a lot of levels, and can explore more areas now so I'm backtracking a little bit.

[canedaddy]

I was going to make this "BOYCOTT SONY WEEK EDITION!" but you beat me to it.

Looking forward to your thoughts after finishing Expedition 33.


Played recently: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons

Finished: Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Added to backlog: nothing

Sackboy was a very good time. Loved the LBP charm and creativity and much of the platforming action, but didn't love the frustration of imprecise controls in areas with forced movement and ever-shifting camera angles. Tried the postgame area and said NOPE. I hope Sackboy's next appearance (if there is one) goes back to 2D or 2.5D.

Since it's BOYCOTT SONY WEEK, I'm playing Oracle of Seasons on the ol' 3DS. It is what it is.

[jfissel]

I was going to make this "BOYCOTT SONY WEEK EDITION!" but you beat me to it.

Fair enough. I have failed you.

[canedaddy]

Fair enough. I have failed you.

Ha, well I can't complain... I'm the only one here boycotting. (izzy and argyle spend all their time on other systems so that doesn't count, and crim isn't touching his PS5 because of school starting back up, not because he's joining cane in fighting the Man.)

[isthatallyougot]

Hey, I've been boycotting Sony since the end of the PS4, ha!

I may be essentially PC-only now, but I'm with all you guys who are anti-Sony and their shenanigans. They clearly, and like so many businesses, are bottom-line first rather than customer-focused. I realize that sounds illogical on the surface to some, but when businesses have enough resources, market share, and therefore power, they can dictate terms to the market rather than responding to it, at least to a degree. The (inevitable) consolidation of resources/influence is the Achilles heal of capitalism in my view.

But, in terms of general gaming, I don't see myself ever buying another console, and I've felt that way since the middle of the PS4 gen. I always bought Sony consoles on or near day 1, and I used to buy other machines as well. The real height of things was when I had PS2, Gamecube and Xbox - along with the handhelds.

I know many are afraid that things are moving towards cloud gaming, but I'll never abandon local hardware as a primary method of play. But, I'm a Linux-only, anti-establishment rebel at heart, and I know I don't represent the larger schools of fish that ultimately yoke us all to the lowest common denominator in terms of quality of life options.

[canedaddy]

Yeah. We're on a steep downward slope with that when it comes to the gaming space, and I'm getting off the ride. My plan:

• Buy used physical games whenever possible for anything I want to play.
• Buy digitally only in very special cases at a very low price.
• Never renew PS+.
• Never buy a PS6 or any other console that doesn't support physical games.
• Possibly buy a used or deeply discounted Xbox Series in a few years just to play the back catalog of exclusives. (There's a lot for me since I've never had any Xbox console.)
• Play and replay games in the backlog.

I've decided I'm skipping GTA 6 unless Rockstar reverses course and releases it on disc, and maybe not even then. My all-time favorite developer is releasing a new game in my all-time favorite series and setting, and they've managed to make it seem unappealing with the gross cash grabs and other garbage. What a world.

[isthatallyougot]

Yeah. We're on a steep downward slope with that when it comes to the gaming space, and I'm getting off the ride. My plan:

• Buy used physical games whenever possible for anything I want to play.
• Buy digitally only in very special cases at a very low price.
• Never renew PS+.
• Never buy a PS6 or any other console that doesn't support physical games.
• Possibly buy a used or deeply discounted Xbox Series in a few years just to play the back catalog of exclusives. (There's a lot for me since I've never had any Xbox console.)
• Play and replay games in the backlog.

I've decided I'm skipping GTA 6 unless Rockstar reverses course and releases it on disc, and maybe not even then. My all-time favorite developer is releasing a new game in my all-time favorite series and setting, and they've managed to make it seem unappealing with the gross cash grabs and other garbage. What a world.

Coming from you that is QUITE the statement! If the industry had its finger on the pulse of the "cane demographic" , they'd be shaken to their very foundations. You'd truly be the proverbial canary in the coal mine. I can see the scene playing out in the bowels of the most influential meetings: "Gentlemen, we've lost all hope. It's been a pleasure."

[canedaddy]

Ha, well I'm afraid I'm an extreme outlier, almost as much as you.

[crimson_tide]

Bruh, I JUST started playing my PS5. Most of the games I played this summer were on PS Plus. I ain't boycotting **** ! I get it but I really think we need to recognize that we have a part in this because so many people choose digital over physical. I own a disc PS5 and a disc willy likely never go in the thing. I find it patently unreasonable for people to force them to keep making discs they aren't going to buy anyway. But enough of that...

Played: Pirate Yakuza

Beat (but maybe not done with) : Pirate Yakuza

Bought: Nothing

This week: FF16 to finish the summer of crim and his PS5...

Uhhhh ..that game's story takes a hard left right into sucker punch territory right at the end. The reason Majima was in Hawaii and lost his memory isn't as goofy as I thought initially. Well, how he loses his memory is still goofy as hell. Also, the kid character Noah is pretty great and shockingly not annoying. I really dug the story and game overall! My main complaints:

-Painfully easy. Not typical Yakuza easy where you can just heal willy nilly. Like they gave you way too many of Majima's boss abilities AND the pirate version is equally overpowered. He's not even a glass cannon, I just mowed through everything. It wasn't the worst experience and kept my attention but a little more challenge would have been appreciated.

-The platinum is one of those annoying do X things Y number of times affairs and because it's so easy, I can't get charged up enough to do those things easily. Also, the pirate tournament thing is meh. I don't want to bother. It's going to tack time on I don't want to spend and that's a bummer. I may come back to it later, because I may be pirated out we'll see.

-.This us extremely important and they missed their chance....WHY WASN'T THIS A PIRATE MUSICAL?!?!?! C'MON!!!!! IT WAS RIGHT THERE!!! I have always wanted a straight up video game musical. They start the game with a musical number. They end it with and even better one during the credits. They rocked out on both. Like 3 more song and dance numbers or rhythm based boss fights would have been the goddamn dream come true...I will have to settle for the opening and closing but we were right there, man...

Other than those few things I had a great time! I would recommend playing through it. I took 40 hours but did everything just about. The story proper is maybe 15. Good, breezy fun!

[canedaddy]

Pirate Yakuza sounds like a hoot. Looking forward to playing it after I play Infinite Wealth.

Bruh, I JUST started playing my PS5. Most of the games I played this summer were on PS Plus. I ain't boycotting **** ! I get it but I really think we need to recognize that we have a part in this because so many people choose digital over physical. I own a disc PS5 and a disc willy likely never go in the thing. I find it patently unreasonable for people to force them to keep making discs they aren't going to buy anyway. But enough of that...

To be clear, I don't think any reasonable person expects Sony to reverse course at this point. My actions are a response to the current direction, not an effort to change it. I don't begrudge anyone who is all in on the digital-only future.